Adjustable oar-lock.



VT. s. MoRToN. ADJUSTABLE OAR LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26| 1916- f1,213',233. Patented 1811.234917.

THOMAS S. MORTON, OF TUXEDO PARK, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE OAR-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

Application filed October 26, 1916. Serial No. 127,855.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS S. MoRToN, .i citizen of the United States, residing at Tuxedo Park, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Oar- Locks, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in boats, and particularly to types of boats adapted to be propelled by oars or paddles.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means for securing the oars to the sides of the boat in such manner that they may be conveniently operated.

A further object is to provide such devices in forms which may be readily applied to existing boats without material change in their structure, and iinally, to provide devices which are capable of a limited longitudinal movement with respect to the boat sides.

These and other allied objects are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a fragmental perspective view showing a fragment of the interior of a boat and its rail, illustrating the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the sliding elements and Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a common form a rowlock.

It has been found by experience that a certain range of adjustment between the seat of the oarsman and the point on the boat where the oar is fulcrumed is desirable, and to attain such adjustment various devices have been originated, as for instance, the sliding seat, such as is used in racing boats. l

In the present invention the seat may be rigid or permanent within the interior of the boat, the movable elements being secured to the boat side or strakes 10, surmounted by the rail or gunwale 11 upon which, at a predetermined distance from the seat are brackets consisting of plate elements 12 secured by screws 14 or like fasteners to the top of the rail, and further held in position by the vertical depending elements 15 through which pass screws 16, entering the rail Vso as to hold the brackets in a substantial manner.

Formed on the upper surface of the brackets 12 are raised longitudinal guides 18, having an open slot 19 leading to an enlarged groove 20 adapted to receive the slides 21, formed with the stems 22adapted to pass upward in the slot 19 and connect with the heads 23 of the slides, one of which is pivoted to each end of the plate 25, by means of the bolt 26. The attened eyehead 28 of the latter is screw-threaded transversely at its center to receive a clamp screw 30, the point of which is adapted to press upon the bottom of the groove 20 so as to clamp the plate 25 at such time as may be desired, or which may be used as a brake to prevent too free action of the slides 21 which support the plate 25.

Secured on the upper surface of the bracket 12, parallel to the guide 19, is a rail 33 supported on its ends 34 in such manner as to leave an open space 35 between the lower side of the rail and the upper surface of the bracket 12 and engagcable within the space is a flattened projection or foot 36 formed with a hub 37 alixed on the lower end ofa screw 38 threaded into the plate 25 and having secured to its upper end a knurled head 40 provided with an index 41 indicating the direction in which the foot 36 is pointed so that by inspecting the indeX, the location of the foot with reference to the rail 33 can be determined. Thus the plate 25, which is pivotally connected to the slide heads 23, may be raised vertically or positioned horizontally so as to slide freely on top of the rail 33, the guides operating in the grooves 20.

At the extreme front part of the plate 25, which is substantially triangular in prole, is a hub or enlargement 45 having a central opening receptive of the stem 46 so that the latter may be held in position by means of the pin 47, passing through an opening formed in the eXtreme lower end of the stem, the pin being maintained against loss by the chain 48 which engages it with the hub as shown in the figures.

A collar 50 is secured to the stem and adapted to rest upon the hub e5, a post or extension 52 of the stem standing vertically above the collar, the post being suited to enter an opening formed in-the oar near the handle portion and upon which the oar is ulcrumed.

In place of the stem and oar post thus described, a rowlock 55 may be used, the hub or enlarged portion 56 resting upon the hub i5 of the plate, the stem 57 passing through it andthe pin i7 entering the opening 58 holding the rowlock in position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that either the first described row-lock or one of ordinary construction may be used, the same allowing entire freedom for the action of the oar, and more particularly that the plate 25 which carries the oar securing device is readily slidable along the bracket l2 to any extent which may be desirable or that it can be locked rigidly in position by manipulating the screw 30. It will further be apparent that the plate may be turned upward by maneuvering the head 40 at such times as may be desired, leaving the interior of the boat entirely clear.

Having thus described my invention, together with its construction, application and use, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device or the class described, the combination with a bracket rigidly engaged with the rail of a boat, said bracket being grooved longitudinally, of slides movable in the mentioned groove, a plate pivotally engaged with said slides, a rail upon which said plate normally rests, means for slidably engaging said plate to said rail, and means combined with said plate for pivotally engaging with an oar.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a metallic bracket adapted to be secured to the rail of a boat, said bracket having an inverted T shaped slot extending its entire length, of a rail disposed parallel with said slot, a plate element slidable in said slot, means for engaging said plate element therein, means for engaging said plate with said rail or disengaging the same, means indicative of the position of the latter engaging means, and means for removably engaging a rowlock with said plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

THGMAS S. MORTON.

Copies oi this patent may 'ne obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of leteatl- Washington, D. C. 

